’Mech of the Week: PXH-* Phoenix Hawk
Phoenix Hawk. One of the icons of BattleTech. The yardstick by which reconnaissance designs are measured. One of the Unseen. And one of the more common machines to be found in the Succession Wars.
Also the source of one LAM design, though I am still not sure how those work…
One of the BattleMechs to enter service in the first 150 years or so of the technology, the
Phoenix Hawk was probably a result of a version of “New Toy Syndrome” with the BattleMech being said new technology. Other options are to hunt lighter BattleMechs, or to perform as the heavier bodyguard of the
Stinger and/or
Wasp.
On that note, there is a slight discrepancy as to whether the chassis is a strengthened
Stinger or
Wasp skeleton. Entering service in 2568, the classic PXH-1
Phoenix Hawk used a 270-rated GM engine and six jump jets to allow it to keep up with its lighter brethren, as well as designs like the
Firestarter and
Chameleon (both came out before the PXH-1). Weaponry is substantial, consisting of a right arm-mounted large laser and a medium laser and machine gun in each arm. The full ton of ammunition for the machine guns is stored in the center torso bomb common to many early designs. Ten heat sinks have serious problems keeping the design cool if the pilot is not careful. Now all this weaponry left the armor protection at 83% of maximum. While not necessarily that uncommon, the placement of some of the armor (or lack thereof) causes a slight issue. Eight tons of standard plate are laid out in a 6, 23/5, 18/4, 10, 15 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, arms, legs respectively). This leaves the head able to be headcapped by a Particle Cannon or a Class-10 autocannon (though to be fair, I’m not sure how many light or medium designs had such weaponry around that intro date).
The first variant to arrive was the PXH-1D in 2586, which drops the machine guns for two additional heat sinks, which allows for a pilot to jump full and fire both medium lasers and remain heat neutral. The second showed up in 2599, the PXH-2, instead swaps the machine guns for a Guardian ECM suite and a half ton of armor (two points to the head, three to each leg). A third arrived in 2603, the PXH-1K, which dropped the machine guns for a centerline small laser, and the jump jets for three heat sinks and one and a half tons of armor, which makes the layout a 8, 23/5, 18/4, 14, 22 pattern.
As the Star League moved towards its zenith, the Draconis Combine created an upgrade to the -1K, the PXH-1Kk, which appeared sometime before 2729 (when it was sighted in battle on Fallon II). This model uses eleven double-strength heat sinks, swaps the large laser for an extended-model, and the medium lasers for medium pulses.
Now, perhaps a function of the Royal upgrade movement, or a result of seeing the Kurita upgrade (the SLDF was involved in that battle on the side of the FedSuns), two upgraded models premiered in the SLDF. The first showed up in 2760. Designated the PXH-1b “Special”, this model upgrades the -1’s engine to an extralight model, and uses an endo-steel skeleton. It also swaps the large laser for an extended-model Particle Cannon, adds an extended-model large laser on a swivel mount to the right torso, puts a Guardian ECM in the center torso, and moves the machine gun ammunition to the left torso, where it is protected by CASE. Finally, the heat sinks were upgraded to double-strength model. After the Liberation of Terra, a slightly experimental model was put through its paces. The PXH-1c technically entered service in 2784, but as that is also the time of the Exodus, it may have been put through its paces far from the Inner Sphere. This model swaps the ER PPC for an experimental (at the time) Snub-Nose model. The one ton of weight freed up was added to the armor protection (two points to the head, one to each arm, and five to each leg).
For the next 250 years, the
Phoenix Hawk soldiered on through the chaos and bloodshed of the Succession Wars. In that time, advanced equipment disappeared or degraded. Then came the rediscovery of some LostTech. The first (official) variant since the Exodus strode forth in 3042, the PXH-3S. Using an extralight engine, this model upgraded the heat sinks of the PXH-1 to double-strength models, moves both machine guns to the left arm, swaps the large laser for a large pulse, and adds an anti-missile system, with two tons of ammunition stored in the left torso (with the machine gun ammo), which is CASEd. MASC was installed to give the design even higher ground speeds, and ferro-fibrous armor was used, in a 7, 21/5, 17/4, 14, 20 pattern.
In 3045, the PXH-3M arrived. This model also uses an extralight engine and double-strength heat sinks. An endo-steel skeleton is also used, and seven and a half tons of standard plate provide protection in a 6, 21/5, 16/3, 10, 15 pattern. One machine gun is removed to add the anti-missile system. Ammunition is in the CASEd left torso. The medium lasers were upgraded to pulses, and the large laser upgraded to an extended-range version, with a second extended-model large placed in the other arm. The PXH-3D arrived in 3048 and is similar to the -3M, save it drops the CASE and machine gun for two more heat sinks. 3050 saw the PXH-3K arrive, which uses a standard skeleton, and drops the anti-missile system of the -3D for ferro-fibrous armor, laid out in a 9, 23/5, 18/4, 13, 18 pattern.
Apparently arriving in 3051, the personal BattleMech of someone named Masters (I think Paul Masters of the Knights of the Inner Sphere) is based off the PXH-3M but swaps the left arm large laser for two 4-pack SRM launchers (one ton of ammunition).
No new variants showed up until Project Phoenix made its way to the
Phoenix Hawk. As a side note, I concur with whoever first told me the Reseen ’Mech bears a striking resemblance to Cobra Commander (especially the head). The first variant to arrive was the PXH-4L in 3066. Produced on St. Ives, the design uses an endo-steel skeleton, and is powered by a Warner 270-rated fusion engine and six jump jets. Armor distribution is the same as the PXH-1 model, save that on the -4L it is stealth armor. In addition to the Guardian suite, this variant mounts an extended-model large laser, two extended-model medium lasers, and two machine guns (half ton of ammo stored in center torso). Eleven double-strength heat sinks struggle with the heat load (the stealth does not help there).
Four variants arrived in 3067. The first is the PXH-3PL, which uses standard plate armor in a 9, 22/6, 17/5, 13, 18 pattern, an extralight engine, twelve double-strength heat sinks, a large pulse laser, two medium pulse lasers, and two extended-model small lasers tied into a targeting computer. The second is the PXH-6D has an extended-model Particle Cannon and four extended-model medium lasers tied to a targeting computer, with armor protection in a 9, 21/7, 16/6, 14, 22 pattern.
The third variant is the PXH-7CS, which only uses five jump jets, ten double-strength heat sinks, an extended-model large laser, two extended-model mediums, an Improved Narc launcher, and an Improved C3 System. Armor protection is in a 9, 19/6, 16/5, 13, 21 pattern. The fourth is the PXH-7S which uses a light-class engine with MASC, ferro-fibrous armor in the pattern of the -6D, a large pulse laser, four medium lasers, and a small laser. Ten double-strength heat sinks deal somewhat with the heat load.
The next variant to appear is the personal PXH-4L of Christina “Chris” Sante who worked for the Bounty Hunter during the late years of the Civil War period and at least into the early years of the Jihad (the incident covered in the Dossiers file takes place in 3068). Her variant swaps the large laser for a Clan-tech version. The remaining ton is filled by a TAG unit.
The first variant to stride out during the chaos of the Jihad is the PXH-5L in 3069. Aside from a change of manufacturer for the extralight engine, the design loses one jump jet, a heat sink, the machine guns, and the large laser to put in a plasma rifle (fed by two tons of ammunition). 3070 brought out the PXH-7K model, which is built around nine improved-class jump jets and a light engine. Ten double heat sinks make the design heat neutral, even when jumping full and firing the Snub-Nose Particle Cannon and extended-model medium laser. A C3 Slave unit allows for interconnectivity. Light-class ferro-fibrous armor provides protection in a 9, 19/6, 16/5, 13, 21 pattern.
In 3079, the PXH-4W premiered. This model uses a heavy-duty gyro in a 225-rated light fusion engine. Eight improved-class jump jets help moderate the loss of ground speed. Armor protection is in a 9, 19/6, 16/4, 14, 17 pattern. A Guardian ECM suite deals with enemy electronics. Each arm mounts a light-class Particle Cannon and an extended-class medium laser.
The last standard variant is the PXH-8CS, which arrived in 3080. This model uses a 315-rated superlight (XXL) engine, with an extralight gyroscope. Six standard jump jets provide some mobility above the heightened ground speed. Armor protection is in a 9, 19/6, 16/4, 12, 19 pattern. Each arm has a Snub-Nose Particle Cannon. A Guardian ECM suite and C3 Slave unit provide some electronic overview. Fourteen double-strength heat sinks provide some cooling.
There is one other variant. It first saw combat in 3142 in the King of the Mountain arena on Solaris VII. Recently part of the Royal Fantasy tournament, the PXH-7KJ “Jasmine” is highly experimental. This model uses six standard jump jets, adds a Capacitor to the Snub-Nose Particle Cannon. Also an additional extended-class medium laser, a 10-rack Rocket Launcher, an Angel ECM suite, and finally a highly experimental Drone Command Console (something I have only seen in the Royal Fantasy document). The chosen drone for this machine is a
Celerity called “Rajah”.
Using a
Phoenix Hawk begins with deciding whether you will act more like a scout or a harasser. With the exception of the two variants without jump jets, jumping around keeping your movement modifiers up is a good idea (noting that if you can run around with those other two, go for it). Snipe at your foes, and dance where he will be hard-pressed to respond. Some models are closer-range models than others, but do take care. The problem with getting too close is that you lose some of your defenses. And every time I’ve used a
P-Hawk, if I get that close, it dies that round (which really sucks with the pulse variants).
Fighting one begins with the resignation that you are going to fight a jumping bean. (Come to think of it, I’ve never actually faced the -1K.) Anyway, my counter would be fast movers and heavy hitters. And if you can get both in one package, go for it. ECM Suites would be useful for jamming any of those with C3 units. And if you have good numbers to hit him, take advantage and bury him (as the luck of getting close seems to work both ways for me).
As one of the longest running designs in BattleTech, the
Phoenix Hawk should continue to soldier on in the Inner Sphere for decades to come, if not eternally. Among its many other legacies, the
Phoenix Hawk has also given inspiration to a Land-Air ’Mech, a Clan monstrosity nearly twice its weight (
Phoenix Hawk IIc), and a lighter variant, the
Phoenix Hawk L.
This ’Mech appeared first in TRO 3025, and has since appeared in TROs 3050 (pre-Unseen), 3039, Project Phoenix, 3085, and the XTRO Royal Fantasy. Some variants were mentioned in other publications, like the Bounty Hunter Dossiers and Era Report 2750.
PHX-1
